Music self-played is happiness self-made.

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Many years ago the Harmony company produced a ukulele on which was inscribed: Music self-played is happiness self-made. That is as true now as it was in the 1920s. Whether you’re a ukulele novice or a seasoned strummer the Vancouver Ukulele Circle is for you! King of the Ukulele, Ralph Shaw, founded the oldest ukulele club in Canada. We have celebrated our 17th anniversary.

You say you can’t sing and can barely play? NO PROBLEM! Quality is not an issue. We do this for fun. Sing as loud and free as you like because everyone else (over 100 people) is doing the same. We play from a 230 page book of classic songs.

Want to perform? Our open-mic time is your chance to shine no matter what level you’re at. In fact the applause is all the louder for brave beginners.

So come join Tom Saunders, ably standing in while Ralph is out of country, and experience the folk music of the new millennium. Ukulele is where it’s at! Third Tuesday of the month “Rogulele” nights are at the Rogue Folk Club, St. James Hall.
More about us …

Our monthly meeting has an earlier start time:

Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 7pm <= Note the new earlier start time; the meeting will end earlier too, at 9:30Our third-Tuesday meeting at

St James Hall 3214 W 10th Ave, at Trutch
Vancouver, BC, V6K 2L2

We will sing from our songbook, and mix in some new (to us) songs. If you’re local, be sure to join our mailing list, see below, to receive the link to the new songs.

Free parking in the neighbourhood, several buses a block away on Broadway

Snacks and desserts, and coffee, tea and soft drinks, beer, wine and cider are for sale. As well, there are restaurants in the area and you can bring food in.

Doors open at 6:00; we’ll start the playing and singing at 7:00. Entrance fee: $10, whether or not you have an ukulele.

What we’ll do at this “meeting”

Here is a 3-minute video that will give you an idea of what our meetings are like.

We will all play together from our songbook for about an hour, take a break, and then have an “open mike” (one-tune performances) by willing people. Then we will finish up with more playing together until 9:30 pm. Come along and join the fun.

We’re not scary or intimidating, and we have the whole range of playing abilities, including people who don’t play the uke at all but for some reason like hearing a roomful of them. You’re welcome to come and lurk or come and join us (there’s the same entrance fee either way)! Here’s a real quote from a new participant:

Had a great time at my first Uke Circle meeting. It was incredibly refreshing to be with a group of people who enjoy making music for the sheer fun and joy of it. Thanks to everyone for being so welcoming. Dennis

Here is another:

As a beginning Uke player it was sometimes hard to keep up but knowing most of the songs made it a lot easier, and sitting at a table with likeminded folks made it a lot of fun. Hilde

Join our mailing list

Changes in location for some reason and other special news, including the monthly tune list and new tunes, will be made known to people on the group’s Vanukes googlegroup mailing list. If you’d like to be on the list, send a note to Wendy at vanukes@vcn.bc.ca giving your name, location, and your interest in the group (enough to make it clear that you’re a real person and not a spammer).